Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1887-10-28

one great glorious country - greater,
more glorious than when you sprHng tb
It's defence, greater and more 2lOriOu, be.
cause you who sit here in the living flesh,
did with shot and steel, at The peril of
your lives, rescue it from treason, and in
that act of rescue did also cut out the can
Ger that alone made treason possible in
the republic, or checked the bounding
step of its progress Because of this |
pay YOU AND your comrades, living and
dead, here and everywhere, the homage of
my profound respect and gratitude, not
in any SCHOLARS Grafton, not IN any phil
osOpher's essay, not n any statesman's
argument, not in any teachers lesson,
out III those living, burning, never-dying
pictures OF the war you fought, which are
forever engraved in the hearts of the peo
pie of republic you served and saved
This most felicitous address was frequent
ly interrupted and followed at its close,
by prolonged applause, and had the higher
tribute of rapt attention, and eyes mois-
tened by memories of brave boys who fell
in the war so wildly recalled by the ad-
dress and by the beautiful tributes to
Stannard and Logan.
The thanks of the society were cordially
voted to the orator.
After "A song, The GALLANT Warrior"
by the Gee club President Farnham an
nOunced that the committee had decided
to vary the usual programme, by having
at this time the sentiments and short
speeches usually reserved for the close of
the supper, and he would now hand over
the direction of the proceedings to Toast
master Hooker
Col. Hooker, in the name of the citizens,
thanked the society for honoriug Brattle
boro by their presence and with apt and,
OF course, often humorous remarks intro
duced the speakers, who were strictly
limited to i've minutes Apiece,
Governor OrmSbee was first called up
and expressed his tn tnks to the orator of
the evening for his beautiful tribute to
the service of the soldiers of the Union,
and Tor his eloquent enforcement of the
lessons of the war. We, whose heads are
growing gray, said the governor, are too
old not to weigh these lessons well; and
we do well to hand down the lesson to the
youth Of the present and coming genera
tions.
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS Fuller responded
to the sentiment, "Nermont-she cares
for her soldiers" He said he yielded to
none in respect for the men who respond
ed to Lincoln's calls for volunteers. He
! had stood, at Pompeli, where the Roman
sentinel stood, keeping guard through
earthquake shock aud showers of volcanic
fire. and yielding his life rather than to
Leave his post. Here, in Brattleboro we
have honOred the higher example of the
Christian warrior, by a shaft of granite
| and statue of bronze, which shall stand
/ through the generations to teach the lesson
of duty and patriotism.
EXGOv. Holbrook responded to "The
| War Governors of Vermont" He said
he believed that but three of all the war
| governors contemporary with himself
still survived. 1t seemed like dream to
himself that he ever held the office. He
WAS always glad to meet his boys, for so
ne must always call the Vermont officers
4
somewhat changed it was true, but still
active, and wearing orthy honors and
discharging ably the duties of civil life.
He wished them all long life to enjoy the
respect aud gratitude of their fellow citi-
zens. Gov, Holbrook was warmly wei
coined and applauded.
Lieut.. Col. and X.Gov. S. l.. Pingree,
was called up to speak for the old brigade.
He spoke of the services of all our war
Qovernors-Fa Fairbanks, Holbrook, Smith
and Dillingham;. 1t is a blessing to us to
retain these men who so nobly sustained
us while we were at the front.
Col and Judge Neazey responded for
the 2d brigade. He had attended many
regimental reunions and discovered that
every regiment was the one that put down
the rebellion. For the 2d brigade he only
claimed that at the pivotal point of the
pivotal battle of the war; it seized its OPP.
portunty and did its duty. How could it
/
under the example of the old brigade ?
The Vermont soldiers fought from love of
country and not for pensions. But they
say that the worthy veteran reduced by
! disease or misfortune, ought not to be an
inmate of the poor house. The country
| should save him from begging.
Gen. stephen Thomas was called up by
Il sentiment to the Sth Vermont. He
SAID he had hesitated about coming; but
! when he reflected that this might be the
last reunion he could attend on earth, he
could not stay away. II he should get
into the boat and remember that he mad
| missed one of these meetings it would be
a sorrow to carry With him over the river.
He was especially glad to be here, to see
and hear a man who was smart enough To
get the better of Gen Butler, who was
not easily beaten. The great struggle in
which we took part was a greater crisis
than we knew; and its result will grow
and widen through all time to come.
Col HOlbrook of the 18th Vermont spoke
to a toast to The unattached organiza-
tionS." The organizations not brlgaded
in the Vermont hrigades, he said com
prised every arm of the service, and fought
on many bloody field IN Virginia. Louis
lana, Mississippi, Florida, North Carolina
and Maryland. "rhe flowers that wreath
the sword, )" SAYS the Quaker poet. make
not the blade less strong" Vermont
manhood has lost none of its strength
| and her soldiers are proud that they have
done honor TO our good Old State.
Lieut. Col. and Congressman William
w. Grout responded for The American
Volunteer" People wonder why we meet
every year. 1t is no wonder or secret to
us. The tie of common danger and hard
ship which binds us is one of no slight
strength; and thus to meet is an mex
haustlble pleasure. Twenty-Five years
ago to-day, 5000 men of the Second brigade
were in camp i'll this good town, about to
leave for the war. We were younger
then. We could not be accepted now but
while lite lasts we shall cherish the friend
ships and associations of our common SER
vice.
Hon. j. l.. Martin of Brattleboro was
asked to speak for the citizens who were
not soldiers. He humorously suggested
that it was an arduous duty that was left
to those who stayed behind and had to
take care of al the girls while the soldiers
were away. 1t is a matter of rejoicing
that SO many of our veterans still survive.
They cannot outlve the gratitude of their
| fellow citizens.
| Il b,,, 10, to .;